Prabowo Defends Hard-Working Ojol Drivers Facing 20% Income Cuts: "That's Easy for Them..."

JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has defended online motorcycle taxi drivers, or ojol, who work hard but have their gross income deducted by 20% by the applications. The deduction has now been reduced to 8%.”That’s easy for them. You sweat, they get the money. Sorry,” said Prabowo, greeted by cheers from workers celebrating May Day 2026 at Monas field, Jakarta, on Friday morning (1/5/2026).He emphasised that ojol drivers are the ones who risk their lives every day to earn money, not the application providers.Therefore, Prabowo stressed that the deduction from ojol drivers’ income must be below 10%, namely 8%.”Ojol work hard. Ojol risk their lives every day. Ojol, the application company demands a 20% deposit. How about ojol, agree to 20%? What about 15%? How much? 10? You ask for 10%? Yes, I say here I do not agree to 10%. It must be below 10%,” said Prabowo.If they do not want to, said he, then that application provider does not need to operate in Indonesia. Moreover, Prabowo has already signed the Presidential Regulation.Prabowo stated that at this May Day 2026 moment, he has signed the Presidential Regulation on ojol so that the application deduction is a maximum of 8%, not up to 20% as before.”We also regulate, I have also signed Presidential Regulation Number 27 of 2026 on the protection of online transportation workers. Earlier, the income distribution from 80% for drivers is now a minimum of 92% for drivers,” said Prabowo.